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Strong, Variable Circular Polarization in PKS 1519–273

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Abstract

We find strong (> 1%) circular polarization in the intraday-variable radio source PKS 1519–273. The source exhibits ∼ 12 hourly variability in all four Stokes parameters at 4.8 and 8.6 GHz, and longer timescale variability at 2.5 and 1.4 GHz. The characteristics and frequency dependence of the variability suggest that it is due to interstellar scintillation. VSOP limits on the distance to the scattering screen constrain the brightness temperature to T B > 5 × 1013 K. The fluctuations in total intensity are well-correlated with those in circular polarization, implying that the variable component of the source is -3.8 ± 0.4% circularly polarized at 4.8 GHz. The origin of the circular polarization is unclear.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. RCfTA, School of Physics, University of Sydney, Australia

    Jean-Pierre Macquart

  2. Australia Telescope National Facility/Anglo-Australian Observatory, Australia

    Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer

  3. Australia Telescope National Facility, CSIRO, Australia

    David Jauncey

  4. Australia Telescope National Facility/University of Tasmania, Australia

    David Rayner

Authors
  1. Jean-Pierre Macquart
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  2. Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer
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  3. David Jauncey
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  4. David Rayner
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Macquart, JP., Kedziora-Chudczer, L., Jauncey, D. et al. Strong, Variable Circular Polarization in PKS 1519–273. Astrophysics and Space Science 278, 135–138 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013182006857

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013182006857

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